SALISBURY — Charlotte Cranford and Jason Young have recently completed training and joined the Rowan County Literacy Council’s team of volunteer tutors. They attended an orientation, underwent a background check, and passed a 12-hour online training program to become certified literacy tutors.

Both Cranford and Young are working with English as a Second Language (ESL) students.

Cranford decided to become a tutor after witnessing a tutoring session at the library. She said, “I was in the library and heard an older gentleman working with a young lady and thought ‘what a cool thing to do.’ I don’t have any experience in literacy education, so this was way out of my comfort zone. I emailed about volunteering and completed my training. I was terrified, but after meeting my student the first couple of times and seeing how eager he was to learn, I was so glad to have the opportunity to work with him. I look forward to seeing him progress towards his goals.”

Young was also looking for way to give back to his community in his free time. He said, “I enjoy helping people and what better way than to read? For me, reading opens the door to everything else.” Young’s student has a university degree from her home county but wants to improve her English language skills in order to enter the workforce.

The Rowan County Literacy Council provides reading and English language instruction to adults at the Rowan Public Library headquarters. Literacy tutors also work with students in several Rowan Salisbury Schools through a partnership with the Communities in Schools organization.

There are more than a dozen adult students on the waiting list, and many more elementary and middle school students in need of tutors. The Rowan County Literacy Council was founded in 1976 and is located in the main branch of the Rowan County Public Library at 201 W. Fisher St.

RCLC is a United Way Agency whose student programs are free of charge to individuals in the community.

More information on enrolling as a student or becoming a tutor can be found on the council’s website, www.rcliteracy.org, or by calling 704-216-8266.